Seth Caudill’s pours in 35, but Breathitt prevails behind the Beef
CAMPTON – January 13, 2024 – Brendon D. Miller
It took overtime to decide what could be the first of three potential matchups between the Bobcats and Bulldogs in the balance of the 2024 season. What a game we all saw from Rose Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. What I beleive to be the two best strategist and bench coaches in the Region and what I believe to the best two players in the Region faced off. Couple that with it being the All-A finals on the line, just a top-notch performance on both sides, and each needed their best in this one.
Thirty-two minutes was not enough to decide it and man we all wish it could have gone on forever. Unfortunately, mine and Elizabeth’s annual keep sanity and stay-alive health trip conicided with the All A Final Four this year, but I was glued to BSN Youtube from pool side as these two slugged it out.
Watch the Replay below!
In the end, it was Breathitt’s inside play that brought the Bobcats back in the fourth quarter as the quarter began with the Bobcats down nine 48-39, which is usually no mas time for any opponent of an Al Holland coached team. Braxton Terry came to the rescue with five buckets in the paint and multiple offensive rebounds. Beefcakes even knocked down there of four from the stripe after beginning the day with an air ball from the line. But it was not enough to end it in regulation, as Caudill cooly knocked down pull up after pull up to either tie the game or keep the Bulldogs in within a bucket, including the shot to send the game into over time with 1.5 on the clock. Caudill was simply spectacular.
1st Quarter
Hazard opened with Caudill on fire as he had 12 of Hazard’s 16 in the quarter including two three-pointers. Terry had two buckets in the paint for the Bobcats while Jaxon Hamilton had his first three of the game. After one, Hazard led 16-13.
2nd Quarter
Hamilton paced Breathitt with three downtown bombs for nine, while Sperry knocked down a three and had seven in the quarter. Evan Eversole came to life in the quarter with seven including a three pointer and Daulton Combs had a three. At the half, Hazard led by one point, 32-31.
3rd Quarter
Breathitt had a hard time finding the basket in the third as Sperry had six of the Bobcat eight in the quarter. Hazard stretched their lead to nine on the strength of eight by Caudill. The Bulldogs were six of eight from the line in the quarter. Headed to the fourth, Hazard was on top 48-39.
4th Quarter
Terry was the story with 13, Hamilton hit his fifth three, and Sperry had his second three and five, as Breathitt out-scored Hazard 24-15. Caudill was stellar with 11, and Kenyon Higgins had to huge buckets. Caudill’s 34th and 35th point sent the game to OT. End of regulation, tied at 63.
Overtime
Sperry led the way with six including two beautiful pull up jumpers from the line in transition. Canaan Gross had four including two huge free throws to put Breathitt up three at the end. Tucker Johnson had five of the Bulldogs seven in extra time as Breathitt was able to hold Caudill scoreless.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Total | |
| BREATHITT | 13 | 18 | 8 | 24 | 10 | 73 |
| HAZARD | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 70 |
BREATHITT – Austin Sperry – 26; Braxton Terry – 17; Jaxon Hamilton – 15; Canaan Gross – 10; Isaac Bellamy – 5.
HAZARD – Seth Caudill – 35; Evan Eversole – 13; Daulton Combs – 7; Tucker Johnson – 7; Kenyon Higgins – 6; Nick Ratliff – 3.
NEXT:
BREATHITT will face Owsley in the All A Regional Final at 2:00 PM on Sunday. The game will be streamed LIVE on BSN.
HAZARD and BREATHITT will meet again at the Fairce O. Woods Coliseum on January 30th. That game will be streamed LIVE on BSN!
